Switch-actuating device



Jan. 21, 1964 c. v. ZIEG SWITCH-ACTUATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1961 INV ENT OR LZyfoni ATTORNEY 3 'IIHIII' HIHII" /ZO 22 3118i? Jan. 21, 1964 c. v. z 3,118,570

SWITCH-ACTUATING DEVICE Filed June 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,118,570 SWITCH-ATUATDJG DEVICE Qiiiiord V. Zieg, Fort Wayne, Ind, assignor to Symnigton Wayne Corporation, Salisbury, Md, a corporation of Maryland Filed June 13, 7.961, Ser. No. 116,719 6 Claims. (Cl. 22274) This invention relates to a switch-actuating device for an electric motor which drives a pump to discharge a flow of fluid through a nozzle, and it more particularly relates to such a device which is interlocked with storage provisions for the nozzle.

Various interlocks between nozzles and the switches to operate the motors which drive their pumps have been proposed. However, most of these devices are rather complicated; and it is therefore, not economically practical to use them upon simple and inexpensive pumping units such as those intended for use on a farm.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical switch-actuating device which is interlocked with a nozzle holder which prevents the switch from being operated unless the nozzle is removed from the holder in an operating position.

In accordance with this invention a toggle switch within the motor casing is operated by a pair of spring fingers mounted upon a rotatable shaft. The end of this shaft extends through the motor casing adjacent a boot into which the spout of the nozzle is inserted when it is stored. An actuating lever is mounted upon the end of this shaft with one end extending into the boot and the other end extending outside of the boot. The inside end of the lever provides just enough space within the boot for receiving the spout of the nozzle when the switch is in the off position; and when the spout is removed, the outer end of the lever provides a means of manually turning the switch on. The handle of the nozzle is retained in the stored position within an open ended pocket within which it is resiliently retained by a spring clip. This arrangement prevents the switch from being turned on unless the nozzle is removed from the casing in an operative position, and the flexibility of the spring finger engagement with the toggle switch insures dependable switch actuation and prevents damage to any of the parts despite economical wide manufacturing and assembly tolerances. These functions are further facilitated by utilizing contact between the lever and the sides of the boot in the on and off positions to limit rotation of the shaft and spring fingers relative to the toggle switch.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying draw ngs wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation of one embodiment of this invention in the stored ofi position.

FIG. 2 is a front view in elevation of a portion of FIG. 1 in the on position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the portions of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view in elevation of operative portions of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a front view in elevation of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a handle storing portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as the handle is being inserted within it; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 5 with the handle fully inserted.

In FIG. 1, is shown a switch-actuating arrangement 10 mounted upon a motor driven pump assembly 12 which 3,ll8,57h Ce Patented Jan. 21, 1964 includes an electric motor 14 directly connected to a pump 16, which is for example, mounted upon a supply tank 18 by means of a stand pipe 2%) through which a suction pipe 22 extends. Pump 16 discharges its fluid through meter 24, hose 26 and nozzle 28 which includes a spout 30 and a handle portion 32. Nozzle 28 is for example of a conventional gasoline dispensing type, and it is therefore not described in detail.

In the inoperative position nozzle 23 is stored upon casing 34 of motor 14 with spout 30 and handle portion 32 respectively inserted within boot 36 and open ended pocket 38, which are for example cast as parts of motor casing 34.

A switch-operating lever 40 is rotatably mounted upon casing 34 adjacent boot 36, and it includes an inner end 42 inserted within boot 36 and an outer end 44 extending outside of boot 36. Inner end 42 provides suificient space in the off position to permit spout 30 to be inserted Within boot 36. When as shown in FIG. 2, spout 36 is removed from boot 36 outer end 44 can be manually actuated to move lever 40 into the on position.

A retaining spring 46 is mounted upon a projection 48 of motor casing 34; and it includes a hooked or indented end 50, shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, which engages handle 32 when it is fully inserted within pocket 33 to resiliently hold nozzle 28 in the stored position. A hole 52 at the top of open ended pocket 38 for receiving a padlock provides a means for locking nozzle 28 in place upon casing 34. Details of the switch-operating arrangement are now described in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 3-6.

In FIG. 3 is shown toggle switch 54 mounted within motor casing 34 by insertion of its threaded stem 56 through angle bracket 58 secured to the inside of casing 34. Stem 56 is secured to bracket 58 by locknut 6t), and operating arm 62 of switch 54 is moved alternately to the on and off positions by a pair of spring fingers 64.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, spring fingers 64 are part of a U-shaped spring 66 having outer ends 63 bent substantially parallel to each other. The base 76 of U- shaped spring 66 is secured to a fiat portion 72 of operating shaft 74, which is rotatably mounted within casing 34 in bearing 76 in the wall of casing 34 and in a bearing 78 within an inner extension 39 of casing 34. Shaft 74 is longitudinally secured between lock rings 82. and 84, and the side 86 of lever 40 is positioned over flattened end 88 of shaft 74, which extends outside of casing 34. Lever 40 is secured upon flattened end 88 by a screw 90 and a washer 92.

The manner in which nozzle handle 32 is inserted and retained within pocket 38 is shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. Handle 32 engages within hooked end 50 of retaining spring 46 which is secured to projection 48 by screws 94, and the hooked end 50 of retaining spring 46 is vertically maintained in position within a slot 96 in the end wall 98 of pocket 38.

Operation When nozzle 28 is stored in the inoperative position with its spout 30 inserted within boot 36, this maintains lever 40 locked in the o position with the tip 98 of its inner end resting against the wall of boot 36. Retaining spring 46 maintains handle 32 detachably locked Within open ended pocket 38. The contact of tip 42 with the wall of boot 36 prevents movement of spring finger 64 out of engagement with operating arm 62 of toggle switch 64.

When the pump is operated, nozzle 28 is removed from boot 36 and pocket 38 and lever 49 manually operated to the on position as shown in FIG. 2 in which its tip 98 is also limited in travel in the on direction by the wall of boot 36. The resiliency of the spring fingers 64 permits operative engagement to be maintained between lever 48 and switch 54 despite rather coarse manufacturing tolerances which considerably economize the manufacture and assembly of this device. Furthermore, the resiliency of the spring fingers and limitation of travel prevent any damage to the toggle switch or spring fingers during operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch-actuating device for an encased electric motor which drives a pump discharging a flow of fiuid through a nozzle having a spout and a handle, said device comprising a boot mounted upon the casing of said motor for receiving said discharge end of said nozzle, a double ended actuating lever rotatably mounted upon said casing with an inner end inserted within said boot and an outer end disposed outside of said boot, a toggle switch for operating said motor mounted Within said casing, said toggle switch including an operating arm for turning said motor on and off, a switch-operating shaft rotatahiy mounted within said casing and having an end extending through said casing adjacent said boot, a pair of spring fingers mounted upon said shaft and embracing said switch-operating arm between them whereby rotation of said shaft causes said spring fingers to move said arm into said on and fo'ft positions, said actuating lever being mounted upon the portion of said shaft extending outside of said casing, said inner end of said lever in the off position providing just enough space in said boot for receiving said spout of said nozzle which prevents said lever from being moved into the on position while said spout is so inserted, said outside portion of said lever providing means for manually actuating said switch after said nozzle is removed from said boot, an open-ended pocket upon an outer portion of said casing arranged for receiving said nozzle handle when said spout is inserted into said boot, and spring retaining means being mounted upon said pocket for removably holding said nozzle in place when it is inserted into said boot and pocket.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said boot and lever are arranged to provide contact therebetween in the off and on positions of travel to provide limits of travel for said spring fingers for preventing their disengagement from said toggle switch arm and any damaging overtravel.

3. A device as set forth in clairn 1 wherein said spring fingers are part of a substantially U-shaped piece of spring material, a flattened area being formed upon said shaft, and the base of said U-shaped piece or" spring material being secured to said flattened portion or" said shaft.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring retainer means comprises a piece of spring material including an indented end, and said piece of spring material being secured to said casing with said indented end defining the position of said handle when it is fuliy inserted into said open ended pocket. 7

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the portion of said casing adjacent said spring retainer includes a slot which confines said spring retainer as it flexes to prevent it from being distorted out of shape.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a hole is provided in a portion of said pocket to permit a padlock to lock said handle to said pocket to prevent unauthorized removal of said nozzle from said pump and operation of said motor.

References Cited in the lite of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peter Mar. 29, 1927 

1. A SWITCH-ACTUATING DEVICE FOR AN ENCASED ELECTRIC MOTOR WHICH DRIVES A PUMP DISCHARGING A FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH A NOZZLE HAVING A SPOUT AND A HANDLE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A BOOT MOUNTED UPON THE CASING OF SAID MOTOR FOR RECEIVING SAID DISCHARGE END OF SAID NOZZLE, A DOUBLEENDED ACTUATING LEVER ROTATABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID CASING WITH AN INNER END INSERTED WITHIN SAID BOOT AND AN OUTER END DISPOSED OUTSIDE OF SAID BOOT, A TOGGLE SWITCH FOR OPERATING SAID MOTOR MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CASING, SAID TOGGLE SWITCH INCLUDING AN OPERATING ARM FOR TURNING SAID MOTOR "ON" AND "OFF," A SWITCH-OPERATING SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CASING AND HAVING AN END EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CASING ADJACENT SAID BOOT, A PAIR OF SPRING FINGERS MOUNTED UPON SAID SHAFT AND EMBRACING SAID SWITCH-OPERATING ARM BETWEEN THEM WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT CAUSES SAID SPRING FINGERS TO MOVE SAID ARM INTO SAID "ON" AND "OFF" POSITIONS, SAID ACTUATING LEVER BEING MOUNTED UPON THE PORTION OF SAID SHAFT EXTENDING OUTSIDE OF SAID CASING, SAID INNER END OF SAID LEVER IN THE "OFF" POSITION PROVIDING JUST ENOUGH SPACE IN SAID BOOT FOR RECEIVING SAID SPOUT OF SAID NOZZLE WHICH PREVENTS SAID LEVER FROM BEING MOVED INTO THE "ON" POSITION WHILE SAID SPOUT IS SO INSERTED, SAID OUTSIDE PORTION OF SAID LEVER PROVIDING MEANS FOR MANUALLY ACTUATING SAID SWITCH AFTER SAID NOZZLE IS REMOVED FROM SAID BOOT, AN OPEN-ENDED POCKET UPON AN OUTER PORTION OF SAID CASING ARRANGED FOR RECEIVING SAID NOZZLE HANDLE WHEN SAID SPOUT IS INSERTED INTO SAID BOOT, AND SPRING RETAINING MEANS BEING MOUNTED UPON SAID POCKET FOR REMOVABLY HOLDING SAID NOZZLE IN PLACE WHEN IT IS INSERTED INTO SAID BOOT AND POCKET. 